Murder in Suburbia

Certainly not "deep" or complicated but at least it's not "noir", violent, politically correct or perverse like so many cop shows of late. The two female leads are charming, funny and carry their respective types quite effectively so a bit of brains and sophistication with a dash of beer and chips which works. Sufficiently entertaining enough to make it through 12 episodes at least.

I stumbled upon this show on Britbox 20 years after it premiered, never heard of it before. Since it was an ITV production, my expectations were pretty low. But this is a delightful little show!

OK, the murder mysteries aren't that mysterious (which they really can't be in a 45 minute episode anyway). Halfway in, you usually know whodunnit. But that is not the point.

What makes this so enjoyable is the chemistry between Ash and Scribbs - and their boss. The dialogue feels very natural and totally believable, with lots of deliberate comedy moments that really work. I am especially impressed by Lisa Faulkner's brilliant acting - and her considerable charm.

Too bad they didn't give this show more than 12 episodes - could easily have run for another five years.

I have sampled a lot of series. I can be easily bored, and often I will last through two or three episodes, but then start to lose interest. This is not a slam on the various series, just a quirk with me. (If I'm really going to hate something, I'll know after one episode.)

This show did not follow that pattern with me, as I watched the first six in one sitting. It would be easy, at least as a Yank, to compare this to Midsomer Murders. And it wouldn't be far off to say it is a less over-the-top variation on that show. But that wouldn't be fair, as Caroline Catz and Lisa Faulkner are more believable as partners than either of the Barnabys and their various DSes. One review I saw called this show "wry," and that's a very good word for it. You won't bust out laughing very often (2-3 times per show), but you'll have a smile fixed on your face for the entire viewing.

Murder in Suburbia never takes itself seriously, as one would expect, but it has a certain sophistication nonetheless. Most of all, it is compulsively watchable and as comfortable as your favorite jeans.

Can't miss.

This entertaining 2004 British mystery series takes place in the fictional English town of Middleford. Caroline Catz plays Inspector Kate Ashurst and Lisa Faulkner plays Sergeant Emma Scribbins, two well-dressed, wise-cracking, female detectives who must face a variety of grisly murders in the well-manicured suburban homes of Middleford, but who also are facing an unmarried middle age squarely in the mirror. The crimes they solve are clever and bizarre enough to make them interesting, and the suspects are just trendy and snobby enough that you just know they must be Mac users. Kate's romantic subplot centers on her hapless pursuit of their handsome supervisor, Chief Inspector Sullivan, played by Jeremy Sheffield. Emma's love life is a bit more varied with any number of odd sorts, all having dubious qualities. My wife and I have viewed this series many times and find something new and enjoyable with each viewing. Highly recommended!

An American chap commented earlier that 'This is the *best* whodunit mystery show that I have scene {sic} in years'. He then names some American copper-dramas that he thinks are inferior to this. I don't know the shows to which he refers, so all I can say is, well, if this is 'the *best*' then American television must really be in dire straits. MiS isn't even really a 'whodunit mystery show' at all, is it? I mean, the writing is so weak that it is not unusual for the perpetrator to come out of the attic in the last five minutes of the programme. What ever happened to the principle that the guilty party should be seen -- but not recognised -- in the _first_ five minutes?

Actually, I think the IMDb classification of this programme as Crime/Drama is altogether wrong. I think it should be Crime/Comedy. It's the banter and the inter-personal exchanges that make this programme, not the crime-solving aspect. (Have you noticed, for example, that no one else in the police station ever speaks, except for the three leads?)

This is a fantasy programme and should be appreciated as such. If our Yank friend thinks this is good 'whodunit', then he might well be interested in exploring other of the many -- and many _better_ -- of the British police / crime / mystery series over the years.

cheers,

Henry